Tuesday, August 16, 2011

We can now confirm that Doctor Who will return on BBC1 on 27 August. Not that there was ever much doubt about that but the BBC, as ever playing their cards close to their big hairy chest, have waited until ten days out before 'officially' confirming it. Right. So, that's the important stuff out of the way.

The BBC has received more than seven hundred complaints about the controversial claim by historian and broadcaster David Starkey that 'whites have become black' in a discussion about last week's riots on Newsnight. Of those contacting the BBC, six hundred and ninety six were protesting about Starkey's comments, with twenty one actually supporting him, complaining that the debate was 'chaired poorl'y and that he was treated 'unfairly' as a result. Personally, this blogger doesn't think either of these whinges is remotely fair or justified. Starkey said what he said, hugely misguided and stupid as it was, on a live show - it's not the BBC's responsibility to stop him for speaking his mind, no matter how wrong he is. What do people expect them to do, drag him off by a hook? As for those trying to defend him ... yeah, good luck with that. If there's one thing this blogger likes even less than people who use racially provocative language to make a point it's those who are apologists for people who use racially provocative language to make a point. Even if there was a tiny smidgen of truth in what Starkey said (which is arguable, though still difficult to justify) he's effectively finished his own career in about twenty seconds. So, now the best thing is just to step back and watch the ensuing firestorm. Media regulator Ofcom has also received complaints about the issue while an online campaign by an organisation called gopetition.co.uk - whoever the hell they are - demanding that the BBC should issue a public apology for 'unacceptable comments' had attracted more than three thousand six hundred signatures by mid-afternoon on Monday. Three thousand six hundred people, it would seem, who have chosen to demand that the messenger apologise for the comments of somebody else. I mean, really smart. No obvious and quite sick agenda going down there, then. The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, on Monday described Starkey's comments on race as 'disgusting and outrageous.' Outrageous, yes. Undoubtedly, and probably deliberately so. I don't know about anybody else, however, but I tend to save my 'disgust' for real honest to God issues not piffle and nonsense like this. If you go through life being disgusted by everything then when something properly disgusting comes along your complaints are unlikely to be taken seriously because 'oh, it's a serial whinger again.' Speaking at Haverstock, his former school in Chalk Farm in London, Milimolimandi said it was 'absolutely outrageous that someone in the Twenty First Century could be making that sort of comment.' And that is hard to argue with. He added: 'There should be condemnation from every politician, from every political party of those sorts of comments.' Starkey's remarks, made during a debate about the riots on Friday's Newsnight, provoked an immediate storm of controversy, with BBC business editor Robert Peston tweeting: 'David Starkey's nasty ignorance is best ignored, not worthy of comment or debate – though I fear there will be a media feeding frenzy.' And, lo and behold, that's pretty much exactly what's happened. Here, for instance, is loathsome oily CNN presenter Piers Morgan's views on Twitter, describing Starkey as 'a racist idiot.' Morgan said that Starkey had 'committed career suicide.' Which is probably true but then, even a broken clock is right twice a day, which is one more than that tool Morgan normally manages. The two other authors who were also on the Newsnight panel on Friday with Starkey have also responded to his comments. In the Gruniad Morning Star, Dreda Say Mitchell called Starkey's views were 'random and confused' but added that 'most people will realise this.' Yep. Unfortunately, 'most people' doesn't include everybody. Owen Jones suggested in the New Statesman that Starkey's comments could provoke dangerous repercussions, although he didn't elaborate. However another author, Toby Young, decided to become an odious apologist for Starkey's comments, blogging on the Daily Torygraph website that the historian was not being racist. He said: 'Starkey wasn't talking about black culture in general, but, as he was anxious to point out, a "particular form" of black culture, ie "the violent, destructive, nihilistic, gangster culture" associated with Jamaican gangs and American rap music.' Which, quite apart from anything else shows a crass and woefully ignorant lack of knowledge about two very different subcultures lumped together on very dubious evidence. The majority of complainants said the BBC was wrong to allow Starkey to express such a view and should not have had him on as a guest, or at the very least should have challenged him more robustly. Which is moronic, frankly, since Emily Maitless - someone this blogger is not a big fan of at the best of times - very clearly did challenge his views (and not with any lack of robust, either) as this clip clearly shows. Obviously those rushing to have a go at the Beeb didn't bother to watch the whole thing, just the edited highlights. Starkey was in the middle of a heated discussion with Owen Jones, author of Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Classes, when he made his remarks during a debate hosted by Maitlis. 'What has happened is that the substantial section of the chavs that you wrote about have become black. The whites have become black. A particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic gangster culture has become the fashion,' he said. 'Black and white, boy and girl operate in this language together. This language, which is wholly false, which is this Jamaican patois that has intruded in England. This is why so many of us have this sense of literally a foreign country.' Starkey then referred to Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy, who he described as 'an archetypal successful black man.' He said that Lammy sounded white. 'If you turn the screen off, so you were listening to him on radio, you would think he was white.' Lammy has since denounced Starkey's remarks as 'dangerous and divisive.'

The BBC said whilst it acknowledged some people will have found Starkey's comments offensive - well, most people who aren't card-carrying fascist monsters, actually - 'he was robustly challenged by presenter Emily Maitlis and the other contributors who took issue with his comments.' Which, indeed, he was. Jones highlighted the potential offence Starkey may have given and Maitlis provided further context by pointing out that David Cameron had already said the riots were not a race issue, the corporation added.

Executive producers Shawn Ryan and Simon Mirren have teamed up to develop a new crime drama. The project is being developed for CBS, Deadline reports. It has received a put pilot commitment, meaning that CBS will have to pay big fines if the pilot is not broadcast. The drama, which is currently untitled, focuses on a genetic scientist who discovers that he has the psychopath gene and uses it to help the FBI catch criminals. The concept is allegedly based on the true story of Professor James Fallon, who realised that he was a psychopath linked to a number of serial killers when he was examining the genome code. Ryan has previously worked on shows including The Chicago Code, The Shield, Angel and Lie To Me, while Mirren's credits include Criminal Minds and Without a Trace.

Comedy line of the week, by miles: From Bob Mortimer during a quite brilliant episode of Shooting Stars on Monday night: 'True or false, Cheryl Cole's music is not as entertaining as her divorce?!' How can anybody not adore a show that begins with an epic song and dance number about Henry VIII being capable of flight?!

House showrunner David Shore has admitted that the programme's future is uncertain. FOX president Kevin Reilly recently indicated that the long-running medical drama may not return for a ninth season next year. 'I think the show itself potentially has life left in it,' Shore told TV Guide. 'But I think a lot of that will depend on a lot of things.' He added that 'there is a chance' that House could conclude after the upcoming eighth season. 'Everybody's hoping it's not, but if it is, we want to do it right,' he said. Shore also confirmed that he has begun thinking of ways to end House if the series is indeed axed. 'To some extent [I'm thinking about that], yes,' he said. 'But it's clearly a contingency right now.' He continued: 'I'm tired of the [showrunner] job [but] I'm not tired of [House's] character.'

Torchwood's Kai Owen has said that his character, Rhys, is determined to protect his wife Gwen and their baby. Owen explained that Rhys will likely never be a fully-fledged member of the Torchwood team, but he will always be willing to join forces with Captain Jack when Earth is threatened. 'Rhys will never be a fully-fledged team member, I guess. He will always be sort of this outside member who is kind of secretly on the books. He knows all the secrets of Torchwood and how they are confronted by the strange and the weird,' Owen told the Chicago Tribune. 'Whenever Gwen asks if he can give her a hand he'll oblige because hopefully then the situation will be over as soon as possible and Gwen can come back home to him safe and sound. Rhys would rather there be no Torchwood, but he does give them a helping hand, especially this season.' Owen went on to explain that filming parts of Torchwood: Miracle Day at the historic Warner Bros Studios in Hollywood was the thrill of a lifetime. 'Warner Brothers, it was like a dream come true,' he said. 'We were filming on a [sound] stage that was constructed in 1935, that Casablanca was shot on. It was where Two and a Half Men had been shot - obviously it was shut down at the time - and [the] ER stage that was home to Mekhi [Phifer] for eight years. We saw the Friends stage. We were still making Torchwood, but we were filming in Hollywood. It was bizarre. It's like a big dream now. It was amazing.'

ITV's all day audience share on Monday of this week was an astoundingly bad 7.8 per cent. Which, From The North reckons is its all time record low.

Sports journalists and photographers will be able to cover the new football season on the web and using social media services under a new deal agreed with football governing bodies. In the early hours of Saturday morning, representatives of the Premier League and Football League thrashed out a multi-year rights deal with media organisations including newspapers and newswires such as Reuters after days of tough negotiations. The sticking point in the talks had been that the previous agreement, drafted back to 2003-04, was 'not fit for purpose' in the digital age of social media and Internet coverage. Negotiations had particularly stalled on how much online live engagement media outlets could have during matches. Previously, journalists were allocated a number of 'windows' for online text and pictures to be updated, while there were no provisions for them to interact with fans using Twitter, Facebook or other tools. The new deal, thought to run for four years, allows journalists to update web stories and interact with fans on social media services whenever they choose, while there will be just a short delay on live minute-by-minute match coverage online. After talks between the football bodies and media owners stalled last week, journalists and photographers had been facing a lockout from Premier League games on the opening weekend of the new season if the new deal had not been agreed. The News Media Coalition, which represents various news agencies and led the negotiations, said that the changes would 'make a significant improvement to the ability of both its membership and other news organisations to report on the world's most popular sport.' A spokesman added: 'We are delighted to have reached agreement with the leagues and look forward to providing fans with the best possible journalistic coverage of the game: match analysis, superb photography, interaction with top journalists and the real stories behind the play. [The] agreement will put news-gatherers back in the press boxes at football grounds following a week in which a dispute with the football authorities over accreditation terms and conditions saw the media unable to attend matches. The previous agreement, signed in in 2004, was perceived as placing unreasonably restrictive constraints on how news organisations could use and distribute their copyright football content at home and abroad.'

Dermot O'Dreary has revealed his determination to prove that The X Factor can survive without Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole or Dannii Minogue but complained about the enormous pressure on him because of that. Don't just do it on our behalf, mate.

The US investigation into Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has been widened beyond claims that victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were targeted by the News of the World, it has emerged. Investigators are understood not to have found any evidence so far to suggest that News Corp's UK journalists may have tried to hack the phones of victims of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. However, US authorities have moved to expand the probe to see whether there was a broader pattern of misconduct at News Corp's US operation, according to the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper, which is owned by News Corp, said that British police investigating allegations of phone hacking at the now defunct News of the World have told the FBI that there were no names or phone numbers of 9/11 victims among their evidence gathered to date. Officers working on the Met Police's Operation Weeting probe into phone hacking have examined massive phone records taken from jailed private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and other sources, but found no evidence to suggest 9/11 victims were targeted. The New York Police Department is also thought to have informed the FBI that it has nothing to suggest phones were hacked, while the FBI's own agents have said the same. US attorney general Eric Holder intends to meet with some 11 September families later this month to hear their concerns about the matter. The FBI is continuing to investigate the 9/11 hacking claims, which stemmed from an article in the Mirra based on an unattributed source. The New York Post, another News Corp publication, has advised its employees to keep any records or documents that could be relevant to the phone-hacking inquiry. US authorities have now launched a broader inquiry into allegations of misconduct at divisions of News Corp to see if there is a pattern of transgression by the firm. According to 'people with knowledge of the situation,' the authorities will allegedly look at cases such as a supermarket coupon lawsuit settled against News Corp's News America Marketing. Floorgraphics claimed that employees at News America Marketing had hacked into the company's website in 2003 and 2004. The case was eventually settled in 2009 when News Corp bought Floorgraphics' assets for just under thirty million dollars. The coupon case is more than five years old and so the statute of limitations would make prosecution unlikely even if criminal activity was uncovered, but finding evidence of a broader pattern of wrongdoing could allow US investigators to pursue older cases against News Corp. Mike Koehler, an assistant professor of business law at Butler University, told the newspaper that federal corruption probes often expand into searches for similar misconduct elsewhere. 'These inquiries have a point of entry, but it's common that once enforcement agencies get comfortable with that, they start saying, "How do we know this conduct wasn't taking place in countries X, Y, and Z?"' he said. 'It essentially forces the company to do a worldwide review which can take a long time and cost money.'

BBC4 is emerging as one of the prospective casualties of the corporation's plans to find twenty per cent of cost savings, with the scope of the channel expected to be scaled back. More repeats are also expected across the BBC's channels as a result of the corporation's 'Delivering Quality First' cost-saving initiative. Other options still being discussed include axing some of BBC2's daytime schedule and cutting back on dramas on BBC3 and BBC4 – leaving the bulk of drama to BBC1 and BBC2. Digital channels BBC3 and BBC4 have been put under the microscope and it is understood BBC3 is seen as more distinctive. BBC3 is likely to remain largely intact but may be asked to concentrate on its key areas of factual and comedy. The youth-focused general entertainment channel only airs a few dramas, such as the acclaimed supernatural series Being Human, but could be asked to scale back on the genre. Management fears an outcry if BBC3 is tampered with and it has proved a useful tool for attracting young audiences to the BBC. It has also been a 'nursery slope' for hit BBC comedies, such as Gavin & Stacey and Little Britain and shown acclaimed documentaries such as Our War. However, more radical changes are being considered for BBC4 to turn it into a so-called 'arts and archive' channel. Despite BAFTA award-winning single dramas such as The Road to Coronation Street and biopic Enid, some corporation executives have questioned whether BBC2 should instead be airing such shows. BBC4 has also commissioned a smaller number of comedies, such as The Thick of It and Getting On, which have attracted critical acclaim. In the BBC's statement of programme policy, published earlier this year, BBC4 controller Richard Klein described his channel's aim 'to be British television's most intellectually and culturally enriching channel, offering an ambitious range of UK and international arts, music and culture,' but with no mention in his opening summary of drama or comedy. In his vision for the service for the next twelve months, Klein described BBC4 as 'the gold card channel for arts and culture, approaching subject matter at a level of depth, detail and authority second to none.' In a statement spanning nearly six hundred and fifty words, comedy and drama – which are the most expensive television genres to produce – were relegated to just one line. 'The aim is to offer discourse and insight through factual, drama and entertainment programming,' he said. One source said: 'The scope of BBC4 is under threat. The relationship between the four major channels is being looked at.' The BBC director general, Mark Thompson recently updated staff on the progress of DQF, which is being carried out as a result of last year's flat licence fee settlement. Thompson ruled out the merger of local radio with BBC Radio 5Live or dropping the BBC Parliament channel from Freeview. He did not rule out axing a service entirely. 'We haven't ruled out service closures yet but the work so far suggests there's a smarter way of making savings without taking entire services away from the public because every single service is strongly valued by its audience,' Thompson said. BBC management recently met with the BBC Trust to discuss progress on DQF before final decisions are made next month. The Trust has now appointed Ernst & Young as advisers to scrutinise the financial impact of management's plans. A BBC Trust spokesman said: 'We are not going to comment on speculation ahead of the trust reaching final conclusions on Delivering Quality First.'

A Sherlock Holmes novel has been banned from a Virginia school district for being anti-Mormon. The Albemarle County School Board elected to remove author Arthur Conan Doyle's first Holmes novel A Study in Scarlet from the sixth grade reading list after the book was deemed offensive to Mormonism, the Daily Progress reports. Board member Diantha McKiel told the website that the school system in question has a longstanding history of reconsidering books. 'Sometimes we have declared books age inappropriate, sometimes we have decided that they should stay where they are,' she said. The book was previously used as an introduction to the mystery genre. However, a number of parents found the work's portrayal of religion to be unsuitable for sixth graders. 'A Study in Scarlet has been used to introduce students to the mystery genre and into the character of Sherlock Holmes,' said parent Brette Stevenson. 'This is our young students' first inaccurate introduction to an American religion.' Students have already registered their protests against the ban, with more than twenty former middle school pupils turning out to oppose the ruling.

For today's Keith Telly Topping's 45(s) of the Day, yer actual Keith Telly Topping his very self was inspired by a Facebook conversation about what an absolutely magnificent little slab of twenty four carat genius 'Uptown Top Ranking' by Althea and Donna was (and, indeed, still is). Thus

But then, yer actual Keith telly Topping his very self though to himself, 'Keith Telly Topping your very self,' he thought, 'why stop there?' There are plenty of other pure-dead skanking dread tunes in a Jamaican style(e) that still put an 'uge smile on an old and embittered Mod's face. Like this one, for instance.

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A Necessary Disclaimer

This blog contains occasional outbursts of adult language (about what a right shite state of affairs occur in the world today, mostly) and some (very minor) adult themes every now and then. So, if you're not seventeen years old yet, dear blog reader, then please do yer actual Keith Telly Topping a favour. Naff off and come back when you're a bit older. Thanks muchly.

Disclaimer (A Slight Return)

All of the opinions expressed within this blog - unless specifically indicated otherwise - are Keith Telly Topping's own. They should not, in any way, be thought of as reflecting (either collectively or individually) the views of any of the various media organisations, broadcasters, publishing companies or periodicals for which he has freelanced in the past, or may be employed by in the future. Or, indeed, anyone else other than yer actual Keith Telly Topping his very self.

My opinions, my political and spiritual beliefs, the choice of which TV shows I like and dislike, which newspapers and books I chose to read and, indeed, which football team I have the misfortune to support are my own and expression of them is my right within a free and democratic society. (Which, for all of Britain's faults in other areas in 2016, it just about still is.) If you disagree with any of the opinions expressed here, then please feel free to start your own blog and say whatever is on your mind to your own dear blog readers. That is, after all, what blogs are for.

This blogger encourages everyone to use those freedoms - which many brave men and women have struggled, suffered and died to attain and then maintain over the years - to express your opinions upon whatever subjects you desire and whenever you see fit in a public forum. Within - of course - the boundaries of the law as it currently stands.

Please remember there are, sadly, many parts of the world where citizens do not have similar liberties and who would probably love the opportunity to enjoy some of the freedoms that we in the West, all too often it would seem, take for granted.

Or, To Put It Another Way ...

This PARTICULARLY applies to the contents of this blog.

It's Not Where You're From, It's Where You're At!

A Brief Word Of Necessary Explanation

Copyright - An Important Notice

During 2015, this blogger received three separate "take-down" notices from blogger.com regarding individual pages of From The North relating to - alleged - copyright material posted on this blog. All of which were compiled with despite an extremely unhelpful attitude from those making the requests in telling Keith Telly Topping exactly *what* they - or, specifically, a third party - wished him to remove from the page(s) in question. Therefore, please note, From The North is a non-profit making blog compiled by Keith Telly Topping in his spare time. Almost all of the images used on this blog to illustrate a particular story come via Google Images. No attempt is made to infringe on anyones copyright - and the same goes to any links provided to You Tube. I am perfectly happy to remove any links or images from any particular page which are copyrighted (within reason, of course), but it would greatly help if I knew which one (or ones) are at issue. If you are a copyright holder and you believe that something has been posted on From The North which shouldn't be, please contact this blogger directly via the comments section.

All Are Welcome, Yes Indeed

Who He Is & How He Came To Be

A full-time survivor, dandy highwayman, bon vivant, self-unemployed author, journalist and broadcaster Keith Telly Topping's bibliography includes over forty books on mainly pop culture subjects. He was the co-editor of two editions of The Guinness Book of Classic British TV and has written or co-written volumes on television series as diverse as The X-Files, Star Trek, The Avengers, 24, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Charmed, The Sweeney and Stargate SG-1 as well as music, film and literary critique. He authored four Doctor Who novels (including the award-winning The Hollow Men, with Martin Day) and a novella. His work includes two editions of the acclaimed The West Wing programme guide Inside Bartlet’s White House, A Vault Of Horror: A Book Of Eighty Great (and not-so-great) British Horror Movies, Do You Want To Know A Secret?: A Fab Anthology of Beatles Facts and Doctor Who: The Discontinuity Guide. He was a regular contributor to numerous TV and genre magazines and was a former Contributing Editor to DreamWatch. He is widely considered to be one of Britain's foremost experts on the bewildering complexities of US network television. No, he hasn't the faintest idea why either.

Notoriously suave, articulate and a right wow with the ladies (allegedly), Keith Telly Topping was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the very day that his beloved (though even then unsellable) United lost 3-2 at home to Northampton Town. Things haven't improved much since. He was the presenter of the monthly The Book Club (2006-08) and the daily Keith Telly Topping & His Top TV Tips preview slot on BBC Newcastle (2005-2012). He contributed to the BBC television series I ♥ the 70s, Call The Cops and The Perfect Detective and has also written for Sounds, the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times Culture Supplement, Radio Times, TV Zone, The Doctor Who Magazine and many other publications and periodicals.

Keith Telly Topping writes, and occasionally performs stand-up, and has written radio comedy, co-wrote the stage musical Monopolise! (performed at the 2011 Edinburgh Comedy Festival with Alfie Joey and Mark Deeks) and two TV pilots both of which are, currently, stuck in 'Development Hell.' A failed pop star at the age of fourteen as bass guitarist in (the never-legendary) Slime, Keith Telly Topping lives, works and occasionally sleeps on Tyneside. His interests include foreign travel, listening to bowel-shatteringly loud pop music, socialising with friends, eating in nice Chinese restaurants, watching football and cricket, reading, tacky British horror movies of the 1960s and 70s, military, political and social history and lots of other malarkey and shenanigans too numerous to list.

Keith Telly Topping still dines out on the tale of how he and three friends once - accidentally - stalked George Harrison down the entire length of Oxford Street. True story.

yer actual keith telly topping

THIS Is What You're Up Against

Nobody's Perfect

咖喱米飯和晶片

The Internet Is Responsible For All Of The EVIL In The World. Apparently

Has Anyone Else Noticed That The World Appears To Have Gone To Shit Since David Bowie Died?

The two things are, surely, connected?

Still, Life Has Its Upside

Sometimes. But, only if you think hard enough about it.

Docotr Who Fandom Explained

Available Again - Something This Blogger Has Written Which He's Actually Quite Proud Of

Keith Topping & Martin Day's award-winning 1998 Doctor Who novel The Hollow Men has been reissued by Random House as a kindle download. It can be yours, dear blog reader, for just three English pounds and thirty two pence from Amazon.

Available Again - Something Else This Blogger Co-Wrote Which He's Actually Extremely Proud Of

Paul Cornell, Martin Day and Keith Topping's award-winning Doctor Who: The Discontinuity Guide is now available in a kindle edition

Other Links

Keith Telly Topping's World Cup Trivia Page

http://worldcuptrivia.blogspot.com/

Monopolise!

The Telly Topping Family Crest

Motto: Veniat Ad Me, Si Putas Te Firmiores Irascibilem

Comments

Comments are always welcome - spam is most definitely not. However, no comments will be accepted from that well known regular attempted contributor 'Anonymous'. If you've got something which you think is worth saying, then I'm sure we'd all like to read it. But, at least have the good grace to put your name to it.

Also, this blog operates a zero tolerance policy towards rude arseholes, racists, homophobes and crass bullies. If you want to indulge in those sort of things then you can go somewhere else and do it (though it'd probably be preferable for everyone if you didn't). Be advised, however, that you are not any getting space on my blog to spread your repulsive views.

mission statement - part I

From The North is actively committed to working for a brighter future for Great Britain through the promotion of junk culture telly and loud pop music among young people.

mission statement - part II

This is, of course, an equal-opportunities blog. We treat them ALL with the same level of complete and utter contempt that they so richly deserve. As Billy Connolly once said, 'don't vote for them, it only encourages them.'

mission statement - part III

It's a truism but, in life, one tends never to fully appreciate the good things that one has until they are gone. Just a thought

appreciate what you've got while you've got it

The BBC is, of course, a British institution and national treasure. It is also - much more importantly - a World Class broadcaster with a global reputation for journalistic honesty, integrity, balance, innovation, creativity and quality. Ironically the only places in the world where it isn't highly regarded are in knobcheese fascist dictatorships like Iran and China and in its own backyard where scum politicians and lice newspapers with an agenda use it as their own personal punch-bag. This is WRONG. This blog supports the BBC and believes that it is high time the people of this country - to whom, after all, the BBC *belongs* - stand up for themselves and remind such crass, ignorant bullies that the BBC is better than all of them put together

reasons to be alive in 2017

No. 1: The third Peter Capaldi series of Doctor Who

can't find anything worth watching on TV tonight?

Then why not open your Complete West Wing DVD box-set and watch a couple of episodes in bed with a box of Maltesers®™ and a nice hot cup of milky cocoa? The world will, yer Keith Telly Topping respectfully suggests, look a whole hell of a lot better after a trip inside Bartlet's White House

whom yer actual Keith Telly Topping does NOT work for

Militant Agnosticism Or Understandable Indecisiveness?

I would really appreciate it if any postings made by myself on this blog are not reposted elsewhere without my permission. Which will almost certainly be given but I'd like you to at least do me the courtesy of asking first. Thank you for your kind consideration in this regard.